Month: April 2026

Learning How To Learn Prelude

Dan

Learning From A Songwriter

Eliza Edmunds Hewitt (1851-1920), After graduation from school, Eliza began teaching. However, her teaching career was cut short by a serious spinal problem. She partially recovered but struggled most of her life. She turned to hymn writing.  Eliza lived all her life in in Philadelphia, where she was Sunday School superintendent at the Northern Home for Friendless Children, and later at the Calvin Presbyterian Church.  Among the many hymns she created was – More about Jesus.

The lyrics say – More about Jesus would I know, More of His grace to others show; More of His saving fullness see, More of His love who died for me. More, more about Jesus; More, more about Jesus; More of His saving fullness see, More of His love who died for me. More about Jesus let me learn, More of His holy will discern; Spirit of God, my teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me. More about Jesus on His throne, riches in glory all His own; more of His kingdom’s sure increase; more of His coming, Prince of Peace.

Eliza tells us we are wise to seek more about Jesus.  The more we learn the easier life becomes as we struggle with things when Jesus is on the throne in our life.

This book is a work of love.  I talk about the things I communicated with Pepper and I wish I could have communicated to my son.  This prelude provides the details concerning the study.

Ephesians 5:8-20 says — For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness but rather expose them.  It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.  This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with Psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  [NIV]

Behold, I Come

Dan

“Behold, I come”—the darkness lightens
Above all sorrow and all fear;
Beyond the clouds the Daystar brightens,
And our deliverance is near;
The groaning earth awaits the hour
When all the wrongs of time are past,
And clothed with glory and with power,
The King of kings shall reign at last.

—Annie Johnson Flint

This is How God Draws us Close

Dan

It was my observation while reading the first few chapters of Ezekiel that all of the sequencing happened in a set of visions. Now, in the passage that is the subject for this essay, Ezekiel is coming out of the visions and re-engaging with real life. He seemed startled, not anxious to leave the vision, and even grumpy about the closure.

Ezekiel 3: 12-15 says — Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the Lord rose from the place where it was standing. It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound. The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord on me. I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Aviv near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days—deeply distressed [NIV].

I think that this transition from Vision to Real-life is a magnified version of what it is like to go on a weekend Christian retreat that is non-stop teaching and prayer. It is fun, interesting and completely engaging.  Then just as quickly as it began, it stops and we are reunited with our normal routines.   This is a hint of what Ezekiel was feeling. He is lifted up and he hears the angels making noise and they brush their wings together. The noise is deafening.

The angels crowded about to see the wisdom of God packaged up like a mantle and placed upon Ezekiel.  Their noise is a sound like clapping or tapping a table with a spoon at a meeting.  They are crowding in to get a good view.  All this was in place to reinforce the importance of the commissioning of Ezekiel.  Surely, he was also hearing them say something like blessed be the glory of the Lord God from his throne.  We praise God from the heavens, we all his angels praise him for the wisdom displayed (implied in Psalms 148:1-2)

Sometimes, when we know the depth of the calling, we may feel some reluctance. In this case, I do not think he was disobedient to the heavenly vision, not shrinking from the work, as Jonah, but was not at all pleased with the task.  He knows the audience will be exasperated by the message and will be very agitated. So, he resists but has no choice.  He is going. 

Perhaps he was aware of the hard task that Jeremiah had undertook at Jerusalem.  Perhaps he was thinking it would be just as difficult.  Perhaps he knew the opposition Jeremiah met with, how he was abused by the locals, and what poor treatment he endured, and all to no real change.  So he wonders – must I experience the same? His life as a captive was tough enough; but now he was facing the double whammy – the captive prophet to a captive nation scenario.  His self-doubt overcame common sense.  He buckled emotionally and became bitter.

What did God do?  God picked up Ezekiel by the knap of the neck and placed him square in the middle of the rebellious nation.  The hand of the Lord was strong.  Like a firm parent helping a child overcome obstacles that seem like a mountain to the child but a mere speedbump to the parent.  God prevailed and compelled Ezekiel to move forward.  God reminded Ezekiel he was well prepared. 

And so, God gently placed the pouting child in his place of ministry and provided time to digest his fear and his grief.  God helped him to heal and then begin his work. Those who God prepares for a hard job are often humbled greatly before the task begins. This is how he draws us close.   I choose Jesus.

Psalm 103: 1-5

Dan

1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.